Phase Change Materials (PCM) oscillate between solid and liquid phase within a certain temperature range (Mansfield). When the environment’s temperature is higher than that of the PCM, heat transfers from the surroundings to the material, which creates a cooling effect and changes PCM’s state from solid to liquid. When the environment’s temperature is lower than that of the PCM, heat transfers from the PCM to the surroundings, generating a warming effect and PCM changes back to its solid state.

PCM-Applications

Monday, March 26, 2012

A consortium named iCool has been organized in European Union to develop a unique technology that makes effective use of phase changes materials (PCM) within beverage coolers. The aim of this technology is to downsize the cooler's cooling system thereby significantly increasing it's energy efficiency.